As they ventured deeper into the forest, Blatt skillfully led the group in search of the remaining three herbs on the list. Each herb posed its own challenges, with guardians and territorial creatures fiercely protecting their domain. However, the presence of Davion, with his imposing strength, rendered the creatures helpless as the group collected the herbs and pressed on.
"Now there remains only one," Acelo remarked, flashing a smile at Blatt. "But it's known to be the most elusive. Let's hope you can find it soon."
Blatt nodded earnestly and replied, "I'll give it my all."
Blatt continued his search, employing a combination of communication with the forest's creatures and keen observation of his surroundings. The lestira had fulfilled its purpose and departed, leaving Blatt to rely on his own resourcefulness and the assistance of other creatures to uncover the final clues. While Davion and Acelo had already acknowledged Blatt's capability, they decided to continue the search for the last herb, just for the sake of it.
An hour passed as they ventured deeper into the forest. The sun soared high in the sky, casting its radiant light upon the verdant surroundings.
Walking alongside Blatt, Davion remained vigilant and cautious with every step they took toward the heart of the forest. The further they went, the more formidable and powerful the beasts they encountered became.
By now, Davion had pushed back his laid back attitude as a faint anticipation began bubbling within him. What he initially considered to be a regular mission turned out to be a potential treasure box. With his knowledge of the family's affairs back home, he was sure that the importance given to Blatt was sure to be substantial. And as the one who will personally recommend him to the Sorneo House, Davion is sure to make a significant contribution.
For Davion, this expedition provided an opportunity to secure substantial rewards upon their return to the capital. His position within the team that had arrived in Nulis City held great significance, surpassing even that of Vance, a descendant of the family. As a guard with exceptional potential, it was only natural for Davion to anticipate the largest share of the rewards. However, he was also keenly aware that should anything go awry, the weight of responsibility would rest heavily upon his shoulders.
A faint smile crossed Davion's lips as he imagined the possibilities of promotion and acquiring more resources, fueling his ambition to climb higher in the family's hierarchy. However, his reverie was abruptly shattered by a faint whooshing sound that captured his attention.
THAK!
Before he could react, a dagger flew through the air and lodged itself into the ground right before them.
Blatt and Acelo halted their steps, their reactions slower than Davion's. He immediately took a defensive stance, his gaze fixed on the direction from which the dagger had come.
Silence enveloped the scene for a brief moment until the shrubs rustled and the sound of footsteps crunching on the forest floor emerged.
Acelo drew closer to Davion, his hand hovering over his storage bag, ready to retrieve a weapon at a moment's notice. Blatt, flustered, followed suit and positioned himself behind Davion, relying on him as their front line of defense.
As the foliage parted, a figure clad in a tightly wrapped cloak emerged. The curves of the figure hinted at its femininity, but the tightly woven fabric concealed her identity.
Davion furrowed his brows, trying to discern the woman's intentions. "Who are you?" he inquired, his voice laced with caution.
The woman halted her steps, her gaze shifting slightly as if focusing on someone specific. Her eyes were fixed on Blatt.
"Did you think that mask would allow you to hide from me?" She taunted, her laughter carrying a soft, chilling tone that contrasted with her seemingly sweet giggle.
Davion's instinct urged him to turn and question Blatt, but he resisted, aware of the enigmatic presence before them. He distanced himself and turned his attention to Blatt, while Acelo also maintained a safe distance, perplexed by the unfolding situation.
Blatt appeared frozen in place, his body rigid with a mix of fear and anticipation.
The masked lady's giggles continued, their eerie quality resonating in the forest. "You're still so amusing, boy~" she remarked, her voice filled with a strange mixture of amusement and something deeper.
With deliberate steps, the lady moved closer to Blatt, her intentions unclear. Davion, filled with a sense of foreboding, refrained from making any sudden movements. Beads of sweat trickled down his brow as he realized the futility of resistance. The woman before them was a formidable opponent, far beyond their capabilities.
Suddenly, in a swift motion, the lady's hand blurred through the air, snatching the mask off Blatt's face with uncanny speed.
"Hehe, cau~ght you!" The lady's sharp gaze pierced through the cloak, fixated on Blatt, who had turned pale as if he had seen a ghost.
Anom's original face was now revealed, no longer concealed by the disguise he had created to adopt Blatt's persona. It was a precautionary measure to avoid scrutiny from spirit rankers. He had removed the disguise before meeting the group, ensuring that only Selvo remembered Blatt's face. Exposing his true appearance carried some risk, but it was a lesser evil compared to being questioned by the Sorneo House and complicating matters further.
"M-m-miss..." Blatt stammered, struggling to form coherent words. The lady's voice seemed to stir up unpleasant memories in him.
"Ah, so you recognized me, huh? I'm glad," the lady remarked, a hint of satisfaction in her tone. "It looks like I won't have to waste any more time. Shall we get to work? You know the job, right?"
"I-I can't," Blatt quickly replied, retreating behind Davion. He mustered the courage to explain, "I am under contract with the family these gentlemen belong to. I cannot breach my obligations and leave them behind."
Feeling the need to reinforce his point, Blatt added, "And be careful, miss. They both come from distinguished backgrounds. They are not individuals you can afford to mess with."
"Oh?" The lady's interest was piqued by Blatt's description, prompting her to observe Davion and Acelo more closely.
Meanwhile, Davion had regained his composure. Blatt's words reminded him of the additional layer of protection that came with belonging to a prominent family. Merely being associated with such a lineage was often enough to deter others from acting against them. Moreover, he appreciated Blatt's tactfulness in not divulging any details about their background without their permission.
"Ahem." Clearing his throat, Davion straightened his posture and spoke with renewed confidence: "He's right, miss. We cannot allow you to take him with you. He is already employed by our family."
"Is that so?" The lady nodded, her gaze shifting between them. "May I ask which great family you gentlemen belong to?" Observing their expressions change slightly, she chuckled lightly.
"What? It's quite easy to guess." The cloaked lady shrugged. "After all, only someone from one of the great families in the capital would dare to venture so freely in a territory thousands of miles away from their base." She locked eyes with Davion and continued in a clear voice, "That may be the case, but are you sure you want to stop me?"
Davion felt a slight tremor run through his body, not solely from fear but due to the impact of the lady's presence on the surrounding energy. As Acelo and Blatt had yet to awaken their spirits, the effect on them was minimal. However, for Davion, it was different. He bore the full weight of the oppressive atmosphere, feeling the escape of spirit energy from his grasp, resulting in a sense of oppression from his formidable opponent.
In reality, there was a rather straightforward solution to escape their current predicament: severing one's connection with the surrounding energy. However, that would be akin to surrendering, relinquishing the initiative to their enemy. It was the worst course of action in a situation like this. Therefore, despite being aware of his slim chances against someone like her, Davion dared not divert his focus from his surroundings.
Just as Davion was about to formulate a response, the lady suddenly waved her hand.
Whoosh!
Davion's muscles tensed, only to relax immediately when he realized that the lady had simply retrieved the knife from the ground. Yet the display he had witnessed deepened his conviction not to cross paths with someone of her caliber.
She possessed the power to wipe out their feeble team without even moving from her position. The seamless control she exhibited while recalling the blade solely using the surrounding energy was evidence enough of her formidable ability. Davion could only think of a handful of individuals in the same rank who could perform at a similar level.
However, he also felt a sense of relief. Her restraint from launching an attack indicated that she was not unreasonable. While he attributed it to the deterrent effect of the organization backing him, Davion did not dare to test his luck any further.
Therefore, he quickly lowered his head and spoke, "As you have correctly guessed, miss, we are indeed from the capital and belong to the Sorneo House."
"I see." The lady nodded, her tone softening slightly. "So it's a group from the kingdom's number one apothecary family. How intriguing."
She appeared lost in thought for a moment before continuing, "How about this? I only need the boy for a short time. You see, I have an urgent matter to attend to. Of course, you are welcome to come with us. I will ensure your safety in the depths."
Davion fell silent, considering her proposition. It was not without merit. It was evident that she had already taken a step back after considering their affiliations. However, that did not grant them the right to push her to continue doing so. As she had mentioned earlier, they were currently thousands of miles away from their base. Acting audaciously in front of a more powerful individual solely based on their background would only invite untimely disaster.
"Alright," Davion said, expressing his agreement. "We'll do as you have suggested." He turned to Blatt and asked, "Is that fine with you, Blatt?"
Blatt's mouth parted slightly, as if he wanted to say something in response. However, after a moment of contemplation, he could only purse his lips and nod in agreement.
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